IN MY DREAMS (Ep. 2)
Title: In the Dark
Author: Shannon
E-mail: slaygirl2000@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell in any way, shape, or form. However, if you wish to sue, go ahead. I'm sure my penny collection and stuffed animals will be well worth the legal fees.
Rating: R
Category: M&M mostly, but everyone's in it
Summary: This is the second episode in my version of season 3. The recent attacks hit closer to home for the Pod Squad then they're prepared for.
Spoilers: Everything that's happened so far in the series, nothing that I write is based on anything I've heard for S3.
Distribution: If you want it take it, but let me know please.
Feedback: YES!!! Same deal as last time, I won't publish the next part until I get some.
Author's Note: This is the second episode of In My Dreams (named so because this is how season 3 goes in my dreams), and follows "Playing House". You should read that one first. Because these are supposed episodes, I'm going to put an air date on the beginning of each one. The air dates will work like they would if these were actually on TV, and you should look at timelines the same way (i.e. even though the season premiere airs in October, it's still set in September). It's my way of making time gaps make more sense. If you find them too confusing, let me know. Character thoughts are in italics.
Air Date: October 16, 2001 (see author's note)
Voiceover-guy: "Previously on Roswell" (hehe, sorry, I couldn't resist, S.)
*She was wearing nothing but a black top of his, with only a few choice buttons done up. Max and Liz quickly figured out what they had interrupted, and a mixture of surprise and embarrassment registered on their faces.
"Lizzy," Maria began, "Michael and I are sick, and you know the best thing for that is a day in bed, so tell us what we missed. Bye now."*
*"I was packing," Isabel said quietly, "and I kept finding stuff. Little things he gave me, pictures of him, tickets from movies we saw. I miss him, Max. I miss Alex so much."*
*"With the exception of this boy, and the fact that they're all high school students, all the males have had short cropped brown hair, and the girls all had long blond hair. Sheriff, the press has been nosing around. What do you want me to tell them?"
"Animal attacks. That should hold them off. Meanwhile, double the patrol of the city, see if we can't stop this from happening again."
"Sheriff, these aren't really animal attacks are they?"
"What do you think, Hanson?"*
* "You know those freaky powers that the Czechs give you a bit of when they heal you? Well, because I've been able to focus my energy so well, I've gotten a lot better at using them. Check this out," Kyle said excitedly. He then managed to levitate a ketchup bottle, bring it to him from across the room, and change it into Coke.*
*Deep in the desert, in the place which once held the Royal Four, something lurked in the ruined chamber. The creature looked up from it's prey, and uttered a single word, "Soon."*
The Crashdown was a madhouse. Treble Charger's "Brand New Low" could barely be heard over the clamour of voices in the small café. It was 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon, and it seemed like every teenager in Roswell was there to hang out, relaxing after the first week of school. Maria and Liz had both been working since opening at 7:00am, and were exhausted beyond belief. Which was why, when Max, Michael, and Isabel walked in, Maria practically tackled Liz to announce her break first. Liz gave her friend a withering you-so-owe-me look, but went back to the kitchen to get the latest round of fries for the football team, while Maria flounced off to greet the others.
"Hey," Michael said, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his girlfriend. She did look so cute in those antennae. "We'll take two orders of Saturn Rings, 3 cherry cokes, and oof! One of you appar..." Michael was cut off abruptly as Maria dropped herself in his lap and covered his mouth with her own. After a couple minutes and some heavy coughing from Max and Isabel, Maria pulled back to look at a surprised Michael. Swinging one leg over his head so she now straddled him, she grinned.
"Sorry Spaceboy, but this waitress is on break. You'll have to wait for somebody else to feed you."
"Oh, but I'm hungry now. Can't you give me something to keep my mouth full at least?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows comically. He saw Maria's grin widen before she recaptured his mouth. Max and Isabel groaned simultaneously.
"This is nauseating," Isabel said, a mixture of disgust and hidden jealousy in her voice.
"I think I liked them better when they were at each other's throat's all the time," Max agreed, suddenly taking an avid interest in his napkin.
"Well, technically..." Isabel began, but a look from Max silenced her.
"Maria!" Liz's indignant voice rang out from the back of the café, effectively silencing the patrons, and causing them all to turn her way. But Liz paid the clientele no attention as she stormed to the table occupied by the three aliens, one of whom was engrossed in a serious make-out session with her best friend, who also happened to be the only other waitress on duty. Upon seeing what had gotten Liz so pissed the rest of the people in the restaurant returned to what they had been doing. After all, it's not like Guerin and DeLuca making-out was anything new to them. Their Eraser Room adventures were already legendary, after only the first week of school.
Liz, on the other hand, was not so willing to let it slide. "Maria," she hissed, pulling her away from Michael. "What?" Maria asked innocently. "This is not the time or the place..." she was interrupted by the opening of the door. All heads turned to see Kyle Valenti race through the café to Max's table. The boy had clearly been running for a while, and was visibly shaken.
"It's Brody," he gasped, leaning over to catch his breath. "Brody's been killed."
The group sat in silence in the Valenti's living room while Kyle told his father what he had seen. Max and Maria were obviously the most upset, they had both gotten to be good friends with Brody over the past year. However, the loss impacted everybody. Maria sat in Michael's lap, who had his arms wrapped protectively around her, wishing for the second time in less than 5 months that he could take away her pain. Liz was running her hand up and down Max's back, who sat with his head in his hands, clearly feeling responsible, and wishing he could have done something. Isabel sat in a chair by herself a bit apart from the others, hugging herself tightly, thinking about Alex. The same question was on all of there minds - how many more? How many more would they lose, how many times would they have to go through this? Why again? Why so soon? Michael sighed angrily, an expression of the frustration they were all feeling, and Maria placed a gentle kiss to his neck.
"And so you heard a scream come from the UFO Museum as you walked by, and you, foolishly might I add, went inside to see what happened?" Jim was asking his son.
Kyle replied wearily, "Right. And then I saw a blur, and when I went down the downstairs, that's when I saw the body."
"Did you see what happened to him?"
"His throat had been slashed, and there seemed to be a hole in the base of his skull. God there was so much blood..." Kyle choked on the last part, and swallowed the bile rising in his throat.
"Well this must have something to do with those other attacks. But it doesn't fit somehow," Sheriff Valenti leaned back in his chair, both frustrated and saddened by this recent development.
"Yes it does," Max said quietly, almost inaudibly.
"What?" Maria looked up in surprise, broken out of her thoughts. She was naturally upset over Brody's death, but what was bothering her more was her guilt over the fact that she didn't feel as bad as when Alex had died.
"Whatever's doing this, it's looking for us," Max began. "Think about it. All the female victims were blonde, all the males had brown hair. It's trying to find us. The marks on the people's faces must be from when it looks inside, to see if it's got us."
"But what does that have to do with Brody?" Michael asked.
"If it was trying to find us, it would make sense to bring us out by killing people with some connection to us. Brody probably got killed because of..."
"Larek," Liz finished for him as realization hit.
"But how does whatever 'it' is know who we are?" Michael asked, still doubtful.
"I don't know. Somewhere along the line it must have connected to someone who knew us and put two and two together."
"I don't know Maxwell, it still seems a little far-fetched."
"How do we find out?" Isabel asked, speaking up for the first time.
"We could set a trap, using one of us as bait," Max began, but quickly dropped that train of thought when he saw Maria and Liz's horrified glares, "or we could try to find it before it finds us."
"How? I mean, where do we even begin?" Kyle questioned uncertainly. Everyone was quiet for a moment as they contemplated this.
"The Pod Chamber!" Isabel announced suddenly. Under everyone's scrutinizing gaze, she continued, "If I was an evil alien thing come to do whatever to the Royal Fo-," she cleared her throat while everyone looked down uncomfortably, "um, Three, where would I hide? In the place that they were hidden in all those years. It'll know it's a safe hiding spot where it has a very small chance of being discovered, not to mention the fact that we all think it's basically ruined, so we wouldn't be going up there."
"It makes sense," Liz said as she thought it over.
"I agree," Max said, immediately taking charge. "I'm going to go check it out. Meanwhile, I want all of you to go home. Don't go outside by yourself, and lock all your doors and windows."
"Max, we're dealing with psycho alien killers here, not strangers with bad candy. Do you really think that's gonna help?" Isabel glared at her brother.
"It'll buy us time, Is," Max said, irritated. Michael snorted, but didn't say anything further.
"Max, I'm not letting you go up there alone. I'm coming with you," Liz protested.
"Liz..."
"Don't 'Liz' me. I'm going with you whether you like it or not." Liz pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips. Max just shook his head and smiled at her. Even after everything she still...
"Alright, but if it gets dangerous, run and don't look back."
"I'm going with you too," Valenti said.
"Fine," Max replied, "Me, Liz and the Sheriff will go to the Pod Chamber. Everyone else, go home and stay off the streets. We'll meet at Michael's place in 3 hours." With that, everyone walked out the door.
Michael and Maria sat silently in the Jetta in front of Michael's apartment building. Neither had spoken on the ride home, but Maria could sense Michael had something he wanted to ask her.
"Stay with me," he blurted out suddenly, catching Maria off-guard. She looked over at him. "I mean, move in with me for a while. Until this is over. There's something dangerous out there, and your not safe, none of us are, but maybe if you're here with me I can protect you, or at least make myself feel better, so stay with me." Maria smiled at him, touched by his concern for her.
"Sure, just let me go home and pack some things. My mom's out of town for a couple weeks so I won't have to sneak past her at least," Maria replied.
"I coming with you," Michael said quickly.
"I think I can handle it on my own," Maria protested.
"But..."
"No buts. I'm going home, I'm taking a bath, I'm packing a bag, and I'll be right back. I'll be perfectly fine," Maria finished. Michael was about to protest further, but it was clear from the look on her face that she had made up her mind, and if he didn't get out of the car, she would. Michael sighed in defeat and told her to be careful.
"I will," she said, as he opened his door. She paused. "Michael?" "Yeah?" "If one of you has to, you know, act as bait, well, I know you'll try to volunteer, but Michael, please, don't be a hero, okay?" She bit her lip, and he looked back at her with a sort of sad smile. He kissed her gently, and climbed out of the car. She sighed. They both knew it would be a promise he could never keep.
The Pod Chamber was barely recognizable. The basic structure was still there, but the departure of the Granolith had destroyed virtually everything. Rocks covered in a silver, filmy substance were piled up to the ceiling. Max, Liz, and Valenti spread out. They had been searching for sometime, without any luck. Of course, it was difficult to have luck when you weren't sure what you were looking for. She was about to give up, when Liz saw something out of the corner of her eye. She moved closer, and nearly gagged when she realized what it was. "Max," she whispered hoarsely, backing away. Max moved over and saw what she was looking at. He grabbed her arm. "Oh God," was all he said.
Where is she? Michael thought angrily, as he paced his apartment. It had been an hour and a half since he had left Maria, and he was terrified something had happened to her. I never should have let her go by herself. He was torn between going out to look for her and waiting where he was in case she showed up. Screw it, he thought, and threw open his door. He was greeted by a very surprised looking Isabel. She pushed her way past him and flopped down on his couch.
"What are you doing here?" he asked harshly.
"His Highness called and said we were all to be here STAT. Where's Maria? I'm surprised you would let her out of your sight," Isabel said pointedly. Michael just glared at her. She glared back. The staring contest was ended a few seconds later as Max, Liz, and Valenti burst through the door. Liz looked like she was gonna puke any second.
"What? What did you guys see?" Michael asked anxiously.
"We, uh, know what the thing's been, uh, living off of," Max stuttered, shuffling his feet, not looking too well himself.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Isabel demanded. Then it hit her. "Oh...God..." She barely made it to the bathroom in time.
Max waited until she returned, then began, "We have to make sure this thing doesn't find any of us..."
"Too late."
Two words. Two words that held the potential to destroy his entire world. Michael jumped up as a frantic Kyle ran in, carrying a bleeding, unconscious Maria. He ran up to Kyle and grabbed her out of his arms. He laid her tiny form on the couch. She looks smaller, he though absently. "Maria, Maria baby, please, please wake up, wake up," he pleaded desperately, "Max, Max you have to heal her. God, Max now. Help me." Tears began to cloud his vision as he tried to connect with her. In a second he was in, and felt Max there with him. Michael was panicking, but he forced himself to calm down. It wouldn't do any good if he rushed and wound up breaking her even more. After what felt like an eternity but was probably only a few seconds, he felt Max break the connection and Maria sat up with a gasp. "Michael?" she croaked. "I'm here, I'm here. You're okay, it's okay, you're fine, you're here," he told her mindlessly as he pulled her into his arms. They clung to each other as if their lives depended on it. "I should've listened, I should've let you come," Maria sobbed into his shoulder. "It's okay," he repeated over and over again.
"What happened?" Max asked Kyle.
"After you called, I realized my car was in the shop. So I called Maria and asked her for one. It...it was waiting, out...outside my house. She got out of the car, and...it...attacked. I stopped it with the little bit of power I have. God i...if I hadn't, it would've...God..." Kyle trailed off.
"It's okay. Now we know we have to be careful. It's found us. Liz, I want you to stay at my house. Say you're sleeping over with Isabel. I do not want you alone. Kyle, Sheriff, you two stick together," Max paused and looked over at Michael and Maria, still wrapped up in each other's arms. He realized it went without saying that they would be staying together. "Tomorrow, we meet up first thing in the morning, figure out a plan. Isabel, is there any way you can stay at home for the week. Go to classes and stuff, but sleep here?"
"Yeah," Isabel whispered.
"Alright. Tomorrow," Max said with finality. Liz and Isabel whispered goodbye to Maria and told her to call if she needed anything, and then the rest of them left.
It was 3:00 in the morning when Maria felt the weight on the bed lift next to her, and heard the shuffle of feet as Michael quietly left the room. She waited a minute to see if he had just gone to the bathroom or something, though she suspected something was wrong. When five minutes had passed without Michael returning, Maria got out of bed herself. She pulled on one of his shirts and did up 3 buttons, then slipped out into the living room to see what was wrong. She found Michael sitting on the couch, wearing only his black boxers, with his head in his hands. She knew he felt her entrance, and didn't say anything, knowing he would speak when he was ready.
"It was my fault," he whispered so softly she almost didn't hear him.
She moved closer, so that she was now standing in front of him. "No, it's not," she said firmly. He finally looked up at her. His eyes were filled with more guilt and sorrow than she had ever seen.
"Yes it is. It's my fault because I let you go by yourself when I knew you were in danger. It's my fault because I didn't follow you. It's my fault because I didn't go looking for you. It's my fault because this alien wants me, and it's using you to get me. It's my fault for being alien. If I wasn't you wouldn't be in danger. Just being with me puts you in danger." With that Michael hung his head again.
"Oh no you don't," she began, this speech all to familiar to her. She climbed on top of him so that her knees rested on either side of his hips. She grabbed his chin and forced his head up so that he would look her in the eyes. "Now you listen to me mister, you are not going to start all this 'I'm-an-alien-from-some-whacked-out-planet-that's-all-dangerous-and-being-with-me-is-going-to-get-you-killed' crap. Got it? My life is in danger when I'm with you, it's in danger when I'm not. It's been like that for the last two years. I've accepted it. You should too. I don't blame you. I do this stuff willingly. And if one day some creepy thing kills me, then at least I'll know it was all worth it. I love you, Michael. And you better believe me when I say I'm not leaving without a fight. You want me to go, you are going to have to physically pull me off of you and tie me up in Siberia so I can't get to you. Understand?"
"Maria," Michael began in a hoarse whisper, "leaving you was NEVER an option. When I saw Kyle bring you in and... I thought my life was over. My life would be over if I ever lost you. I love you more than... God, Maria, you are my home. And I'm just so afraid that one day we're not going to make it in time..."
"Shh..." she silenced him. They looked at each other for a moment. Neither was sure who started the kiss, or who opened up the connection. The kiss was filled with all the passion, desire, fear, and love they had ever known, and the visions of each other that followed were equally as powerful. Every private moment, every secret fantasy, every feeling each at ever felt rushed through the other's head. They felt each other's need and desire, and this fueled their own. Michael's fingers made short work of the buttons on Maria's top and it quickly fell to the floor. Michael's boxers soon joined it as Maria deftly removed them with her toes as he pushed her back onto the couch. The kiss and the visions never broke once as they made love. They fell asleep hours later, Maria on top of Michael with his arms around her, both knowing he would never let go.
Isabel snuck out her window about an hour before dawn. She couldn't sleep, and couldn't stand to be in that house any longer with Liz snoring beside her. For such a small girl she makes an awful lot of noise, Isabel though idly as she jogged towards her destination. She sighed as she settled on the ground next to the small plaque that marked Alex's grave. Whenever she was upset, or worried, or just lonely she came here. She would talk to Alex for hours, as if he was really there. Once or twice she fell asleep here. Sometimes she would actually see him, though she assumed it was of an overactive imagination. But there were times when he felt so real... She knew she shouldn't be out here now, Max was right, it wasn't safe, but she couldn't help it. With everything that had happened in the last 24 hours, she had to get out, had to think. Isabel sighed, and laid down on the grass. She closed her eyes, hoping this would be one of the times when she would see Alex, when she could pretend he was still real. She began to feel herself drift, when suddenly a clawed hand closed over her mouth. She screamed once, then everything went black.
TBC...
End Note: Sorry to you all you Abdcutees and Pepperjacks out there! Please don't hurt me!
Title: In the Dark
Author: Shannon
E-mail: slaygirl2000@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell in any way, shape, or form. However, if you wish to sue, go ahead. I'm sure my penny collection and stuffed animals will be well worth the legal fees.
Rating: R
Category: M&M mostly, but everyone's in it
Summary: This is the second episode in my version of season 3. The recent attacks hit closer to home for the Pod Squad then they're prepared for.
Spoilers: Everything that's happened so far in the series, nothing that I write is based on anything I've heard for S3.
Distribution: If you want it take it, but let me know please.
Feedback: YES!!! Same deal as last time, I won't publish the next part until I get some.
Author's Note: This is the second episode of In My Dreams (named so because this is how season 3 goes in my dreams), and follows "Playing House". You should read that one first. Because these are supposed episodes, I'm going to put an air date on the beginning of each one. The air dates will work like they would if these were actually on TV, and you should look at timelines the same way (i.e. even though the season premiere airs in October, it's still set in September). It's my way of making time gaps make more sense. If you find them too confusing, let me know. Character thoughts are in italics.
Air Date: October 16, 2001 (see author's note)
Voiceover-guy: "Previously on Roswell" (hehe, sorry, I couldn't resist, S.)
*She was wearing nothing but a black top of his, with only a few choice buttons done up. Max and Liz quickly figured out what they had interrupted, and a mixture of surprise and embarrassment registered on their faces.
"Lizzy," Maria began, "Michael and I are sick, and you know the best thing for that is a day in bed, so tell us what we missed. Bye now."*
*"I was packing," Isabel said quietly, "and I kept finding stuff. Little things he gave me, pictures of him, tickets from movies we saw. I miss him, Max. I miss Alex so much."*
*"With the exception of this boy, and the fact that they're all high school students, all the males have had short cropped brown hair, and the girls all had long blond hair. Sheriff, the press has been nosing around. What do you want me to tell them?"
"Animal attacks. That should hold them off. Meanwhile, double the patrol of the city, see if we can't stop this from happening again."
"Sheriff, these aren't really animal attacks are they?"
"What do you think, Hanson?"*
* "You know those freaky powers that the Czechs give you a bit of when they heal you? Well, because I've been able to focus my energy so well, I've gotten a lot better at using them. Check this out," Kyle said excitedly. He then managed to levitate a ketchup bottle, bring it to him from across the room, and change it into Coke.*
*Deep in the desert, in the place which once held the Royal Four, something lurked in the ruined chamber. The creature looked up from it's prey, and uttered a single word, "Soon."*
The Crashdown was a madhouse. Treble Charger's "Brand New Low" could barely be heard over the clamour of voices in the small café. It was 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon, and it seemed like every teenager in Roswell was there to hang out, relaxing after the first week of school. Maria and Liz had both been working since opening at 7:00am, and were exhausted beyond belief. Which was why, when Max, Michael, and Isabel walked in, Maria practically tackled Liz to announce her break first. Liz gave her friend a withering you-so-owe-me look, but went back to the kitchen to get the latest round of fries for the football team, while Maria flounced off to greet the others.
"Hey," Michael said, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his girlfriend. She did look so cute in those antennae. "We'll take two orders of Saturn Rings, 3 cherry cokes, and oof! One of you appar..." Michael was cut off abruptly as Maria dropped herself in his lap and covered his mouth with her own. After a couple minutes and some heavy coughing from Max and Isabel, Maria pulled back to look at a surprised Michael. Swinging one leg over his head so she now straddled him, she grinned.
"Sorry Spaceboy, but this waitress is on break. You'll have to wait for somebody else to feed you."
"Oh, but I'm hungry now. Can't you give me something to keep my mouth full at least?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows comically. He saw Maria's grin widen before she recaptured his mouth. Max and Isabel groaned simultaneously.
"This is nauseating," Isabel said, a mixture of disgust and hidden jealousy in her voice.
"I think I liked them better when they were at each other's throat's all the time," Max agreed, suddenly taking an avid interest in his napkin.
"Well, technically..." Isabel began, but a look from Max silenced her.
"Maria!" Liz's indignant voice rang out from the back of the café, effectively silencing the patrons, and causing them all to turn her way. But Liz paid the clientele no attention as she stormed to the table occupied by the three aliens, one of whom was engrossed in a serious make-out session with her best friend, who also happened to be the only other waitress on duty. Upon seeing what had gotten Liz so pissed the rest of the people in the restaurant returned to what they had been doing. After all, it's not like Guerin and DeLuca making-out was anything new to them. Their Eraser Room adventures were already legendary, after only the first week of school.
Liz, on the other hand, was not so willing to let it slide. "Maria," she hissed, pulling her away from Michael. "What?" Maria asked innocently. "This is not the time or the place..." she was interrupted by the opening of the door. All heads turned to see Kyle Valenti race through the café to Max's table. The boy had clearly been running for a while, and was visibly shaken.
"It's Brody," he gasped, leaning over to catch his breath. "Brody's been killed."
The group sat in silence in the Valenti's living room while Kyle told his father what he had seen. Max and Maria were obviously the most upset, they had both gotten to be good friends with Brody over the past year. However, the loss impacted everybody. Maria sat in Michael's lap, who had his arms wrapped protectively around her, wishing for the second time in less than 5 months that he could take away her pain. Liz was running her hand up and down Max's back, who sat with his head in his hands, clearly feeling responsible, and wishing he could have done something. Isabel sat in a chair by herself a bit apart from the others, hugging herself tightly, thinking about Alex. The same question was on all of there minds - how many more? How many more would they lose, how many times would they have to go through this? Why again? Why so soon? Michael sighed angrily, an expression of the frustration they were all feeling, and Maria placed a gentle kiss to his neck.
"And so you heard a scream come from the UFO Museum as you walked by, and you, foolishly might I add, went inside to see what happened?" Jim was asking his son.
Kyle replied wearily, "Right. And then I saw a blur, and when I went down the downstairs, that's when I saw the body."
"Did you see what happened to him?"
"His throat had been slashed, and there seemed to be a hole in the base of his skull. God there was so much blood..." Kyle choked on the last part, and swallowed the bile rising in his throat.
"Well this must have something to do with those other attacks. But it doesn't fit somehow," Sheriff Valenti leaned back in his chair, both frustrated and saddened by this recent development.
"Yes it does," Max said quietly, almost inaudibly.
"What?" Maria looked up in surprise, broken out of her thoughts. She was naturally upset over Brody's death, but what was bothering her more was her guilt over the fact that she didn't feel as bad as when Alex had died.
"Whatever's doing this, it's looking for us," Max began. "Think about it. All the female victims were blonde, all the males had brown hair. It's trying to find us. The marks on the people's faces must be from when it looks inside, to see if it's got us."
"But what does that have to do with Brody?" Michael asked.
"If it was trying to find us, it would make sense to bring us out by killing people with some connection to us. Brody probably got killed because of..."
"Larek," Liz finished for him as realization hit.
"But how does whatever 'it' is know who we are?" Michael asked, still doubtful.
"I don't know. Somewhere along the line it must have connected to someone who knew us and put two and two together."
"I don't know Maxwell, it still seems a little far-fetched."
"How do we find out?" Isabel asked, speaking up for the first time.
"We could set a trap, using one of us as bait," Max began, but quickly dropped that train of thought when he saw Maria and Liz's horrified glares, "or we could try to find it before it finds us."
"How? I mean, where do we even begin?" Kyle questioned uncertainly. Everyone was quiet for a moment as they contemplated this.
"The Pod Chamber!" Isabel announced suddenly. Under everyone's scrutinizing gaze, she continued, "If I was an evil alien thing come to do whatever to the Royal Fo-," she cleared her throat while everyone looked down uncomfortably, "um, Three, where would I hide? In the place that they were hidden in all those years. It'll know it's a safe hiding spot where it has a very small chance of being discovered, not to mention the fact that we all think it's basically ruined, so we wouldn't be going up there."
"It makes sense," Liz said as she thought it over.
"I agree," Max said, immediately taking charge. "I'm going to go check it out. Meanwhile, I want all of you to go home. Don't go outside by yourself, and lock all your doors and windows."
"Max, we're dealing with psycho alien killers here, not strangers with bad candy. Do you really think that's gonna help?" Isabel glared at her brother.
"It'll buy us time, Is," Max said, irritated. Michael snorted, but didn't say anything further.
"Max, I'm not letting you go up there alone. I'm coming with you," Liz protested.
"Liz..."
"Don't 'Liz' me. I'm going with you whether you like it or not." Liz pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips. Max just shook his head and smiled at her. Even after everything she still...
"Alright, but if it gets dangerous, run and don't look back."
"I'm going with you too," Valenti said.
"Fine," Max replied, "Me, Liz and the Sheriff will go to the Pod Chamber. Everyone else, go home and stay off the streets. We'll meet at Michael's place in 3 hours." With that, everyone walked out the door.
Michael and Maria sat silently in the Jetta in front of Michael's apartment building. Neither had spoken on the ride home, but Maria could sense Michael had something he wanted to ask her.
"Stay with me," he blurted out suddenly, catching Maria off-guard. She looked over at him. "I mean, move in with me for a while. Until this is over. There's something dangerous out there, and your not safe, none of us are, but maybe if you're here with me I can protect you, or at least make myself feel better, so stay with me." Maria smiled at him, touched by his concern for her.
"Sure, just let me go home and pack some things. My mom's out of town for a couple weeks so I won't have to sneak past her at least," Maria replied.
"I coming with you," Michael said quickly.
"I think I can handle it on my own," Maria protested.
"But..."
"No buts. I'm going home, I'm taking a bath, I'm packing a bag, and I'll be right back. I'll be perfectly fine," Maria finished. Michael was about to protest further, but it was clear from the look on her face that she had made up her mind, and if he didn't get out of the car, she would. Michael sighed in defeat and told her to be careful.
"I will," she said, as he opened his door. She paused. "Michael?" "Yeah?" "If one of you has to, you know, act as bait, well, I know you'll try to volunteer, but Michael, please, don't be a hero, okay?" She bit her lip, and he looked back at her with a sort of sad smile. He kissed her gently, and climbed out of the car. She sighed. They both knew it would be a promise he could never keep.
The Pod Chamber was barely recognizable. The basic structure was still there, but the departure of the Granolith had destroyed virtually everything. Rocks covered in a silver, filmy substance were piled up to the ceiling. Max, Liz, and Valenti spread out. They had been searching for sometime, without any luck. Of course, it was difficult to have luck when you weren't sure what you were looking for. She was about to give up, when Liz saw something out of the corner of her eye. She moved closer, and nearly gagged when she realized what it was. "Max," she whispered hoarsely, backing away. Max moved over and saw what she was looking at. He grabbed her arm. "Oh God," was all he said.
Where is she? Michael thought angrily, as he paced his apartment. It had been an hour and a half since he had left Maria, and he was terrified something had happened to her. I never should have let her go by herself. He was torn between going out to look for her and waiting where he was in case she showed up. Screw it, he thought, and threw open his door. He was greeted by a very surprised looking Isabel. She pushed her way past him and flopped down on his couch.
"What are you doing here?" he asked harshly.
"His Highness called and said we were all to be here STAT. Where's Maria? I'm surprised you would let her out of your sight," Isabel said pointedly. Michael just glared at her. She glared back. The staring contest was ended a few seconds later as Max, Liz, and Valenti burst through the door. Liz looked like she was gonna puke any second.
"What? What did you guys see?" Michael asked anxiously.
"We, uh, know what the thing's been, uh, living off of," Max stuttered, shuffling his feet, not looking too well himself.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Isabel demanded. Then it hit her. "Oh...God..." She barely made it to the bathroom in time.
Max waited until she returned, then began, "We have to make sure this thing doesn't find any of us..."
"Too late."
Two words. Two words that held the potential to destroy his entire world. Michael jumped up as a frantic Kyle ran in, carrying a bleeding, unconscious Maria. He ran up to Kyle and grabbed her out of his arms. He laid her tiny form on the couch. She looks smaller, he though absently. "Maria, Maria baby, please, please wake up, wake up," he pleaded desperately, "Max, Max you have to heal her. God, Max now. Help me." Tears began to cloud his vision as he tried to connect with her. In a second he was in, and felt Max there with him. Michael was panicking, but he forced himself to calm down. It wouldn't do any good if he rushed and wound up breaking her even more. After what felt like an eternity but was probably only a few seconds, he felt Max break the connection and Maria sat up with a gasp. "Michael?" she croaked. "I'm here, I'm here. You're okay, it's okay, you're fine, you're here," he told her mindlessly as he pulled her into his arms. They clung to each other as if their lives depended on it. "I should've listened, I should've let you come," Maria sobbed into his shoulder. "It's okay," he repeated over and over again.
"What happened?" Max asked Kyle.
"After you called, I realized my car was in the shop. So I called Maria and asked her for one. It...it was waiting, out...outside my house. She got out of the car, and...it...attacked. I stopped it with the little bit of power I have. God i...if I hadn't, it would've...God..." Kyle trailed off.
"It's okay. Now we know we have to be careful. It's found us. Liz, I want you to stay at my house. Say you're sleeping over with Isabel. I do not want you alone. Kyle, Sheriff, you two stick together," Max paused and looked over at Michael and Maria, still wrapped up in each other's arms. He realized it went without saying that they would be staying together. "Tomorrow, we meet up first thing in the morning, figure out a plan. Isabel, is there any way you can stay at home for the week. Go to classes and stuff, but sleep here?"
"Yeah," Isabel whispered.
"Alright. Tomorrow," Max said with finality. Liz and Isabel whispered goodbye to Maria and told her to call if she needed anything, and then the rest of them left.
It was 3:00 in the morning when Maria felt the weight on the bed lift next to her, and heard the shuffle of feet as Michael quietly left the room. She waited a minute to see if he had just gone to the bathroom or something, though she suspected something was wrong. When five minutes had passed without Michael returning, Maria got out of bed herself. She pulled on one of his shirts and did up 3 buttons, then slipped out into the living room to see what was wrong. She found Michael sitting on the couch, wearing only his black boxers, with his head in his hands. She knew he felt her entrance, and didn't say anything, knowing he would speak when he was ready.
"It was my fault," he whispered so softly she almost didn't hear him.
She moved closer, so that she was now standing in front of him. "No, it's not," she said firmly. He finally looked up at her. His eyes were filled with more guilt and sorrow than she had ever seen.
"Yes it is. It's my fault because I let you go by yourself when I knew you were in danger. It's my fault because I didn't follow you. It's my fault because I didn't go looking for you. It's my fault because this alien wants me, and it's using you to get me. It's my fault for being alien. If I wasn't you wouldn't be in danger. Just being with me puts you in danger." With that Michael hung his head again.
"Oh no you don't," she began, this speech all to familiar to her. She climbed on top of him so that her knees rested on either side of his hips. She grabbed his chin and forced his head up so that he would look her in the eyes. "Now you listen to me mister, you are not going to start all this 'I'm-an-alien-from-some-whacked-out-planet-that's-all-dangerous-and-being-with-me-is-going-to-get-you-killed' crap. Got it? My life is in danger when I'm with you, it's in danger when I'm not. It's been like that for the last two years. I've accepted it. You should too. I don't blame you. I do this stuff willingly. And if one day some creepy thing kills me, then at least I'll know it was all worth it. I love you, Michael. And you better believe me when I say I'm not leaving without a fight. You want me to go, you are going to have to physically pull me off of you and tie me up in Siberia so I can't get to you. Understand?"
"Maria," Michael began in a hoarse whisper, "leaving you was NEVER an option. When I saw Kyle bring you in and... I thought my life was over. My life would be over if I ever lost you. I love you more than... God, Maria, you are my home. And I'm just so afraid that one day we're not going to make it in time..."
"Shh..." she silenced him. They looked at each other for a moment. Neither was sure who started the kiss, or who opened up the connection. The kiss was filled with all the passion, desire, fear, and love they had ever known, and the visions of each other that followed were equally as powerful. Every private moment, every secret fantasy, every feeling each at ever felt rushed through the other's head. They felt each other's need and desire, and this fueled their own. Michael's fingers made short work of the buttons on Maria's top and it quickly fell to the floor. Michael's boxers soon joined it as Maria deftly removed them with her toes as he pushed her back onto the couch. The kiss and the visions never broke once as they made love. They fell asleep hours later, Maria on top of Michael with his arms around her, both knowing he would never let go.
Isabel snuck out her window about an hour before dawn. She couldn't sleep, and couldn't stand to be in that house any longer with Liz snoring beside her. For such a small girl she makes an awful lot of noise, Isabel though idly as she jogged towards her destination. She sighed as she settled on the ground next to the small plaque that marked Alex's grave. Whenever she was upset, or worried, or just lonely she came here. She would talk to Alex for hours, as if he was really there. Once or twice she fell asleep here. Sometimes she would actually see him, though she assumed it was of an overactive imagination. But there were times when he felt so real... She knew she shouldn't be out here now, Max was right, it wasn't safe, but she couldn't help it. With everything that had happened in the last 24 hours, she had to get out, had to think. Isabel sighed, and laid down on the grass. She closed her eyes, hoping this would be one of the times when she would see Alex, when she could pretend he was still real. She began to feel herself drift, when suddenly a clawed hand closed over her mouth. She screamed once, then everything went black.
TBC...
End Note: Sorry to you all you Abdcutees and Pepperjacks out there! Please don't hurt me!